United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Technology & Development Program 7700Transportation System 2500Watershed and Air

Management November 1999 9977 1207SDTDC

Dust Palliative Selection and Application Guide

DUST PALLIATIVE SELECTION AND APPLICATION GUIDE

Peter Bolander Pavement Engineer, Pacific Northwest Region Alan Yamada Project Leader San Dimas Technology and Development Center San Dimas, California November 1999

Information contained in this document has been developed for the guidance of employees of the Forest Service, USDA, its contractors, and cooperating Federal and State agencies. The Department of Agriculture assumes no responsibility for the interpretation or use of this information by other than its own employees. The use of trade, firm, or corporation names is for the information and convenience of the reader. Such use does not constitute an official evaluation, conclusion, recommendation, endorsement, or approval of any product or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA Office of Communications at 202-720-22791 (voice), or 800-855-1234 (TDD). To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340 (voice), or 800-855-1234 (TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity employer.

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Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 1 DUST ABATEMENT BASICS ............................................................................................................ 1 DUST PALLIATIVE BASICS .............................................................................................................. 2 SUPPRESSANT SELECTION TIPS ................................................................................................. 2 SUPPRESSANT APPLICATION TIPS .............................................................................................. 15 General Application Tips ............................................................................................................ 15 Water Application Tips ............................................................................................................... 15 Chloride Application Tips ........................................................................................................... 15 Petroleum Application Tips ........................................................................................................ 16 Organic Nonpetroleum Application Tips ..................................................................................... 16 Electrochemical Application Tips ............................................................................................... 16 Polymer Application Tips ............................................................................................................ 16 Clay Additive Application Tips .................................................................................................... 16 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ........................................................................................................... 16 PAST FIELD OR LABORATORY STUDY REFERENCES ................................................................ 18 ONGOING FIELD OR LABORATORY STUDIES ............................................................................. 18 LITERATURE CITED ........................................................................................................................ 19

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author would like to first acknowledge all the Forest Service personnel and suppressant manufacturers/suppliers that have shared their wisdom and knowledge on the use of dust suppressants. Acknowledgements should also go to UMA Engineering, George Giummarra, and David Jones, for without their studies and writings, this report would have been much more difficult to pull together.

INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this publication is to help practitioners understand and correctly choose and apply the dust palliative that is appropriate for their particular site, traffic conditions, and climate. In addition, this publication describes the expected performance, limitations, and potential environmental impacts of various palliatives. This guide examines most of the commonly available dust palliatives currently available and does not endorse any particular product. Since new products will become available and existing products will most likely change following publication of this report, it is recommended that this guide be used as a starting point for determining which palliative would be most appropriate for a given situation.

together, removing them is not a good option. Sealing the surface with an asphalt or concrete pavement or Bituminous Surface Treatment eliminates the dust problem; however, the low traffic on most Forest Service roads does not justify the cost of sealing the road with asphalt, concrete, or a surface treatment. Another alternative is to apply a dust suppressant product. These products are not a permanent solution and will require further applications as the effectiveness of the product decreases with time. Dust suppressants are one of many possible methods to control dust (Foley 1996; UMA 1987; Washington Dept. of Ecology 1996). Dust suppressants work by either agglomerating the fine particles, adhering/binding the surface particles together, or increasing the density of the road surface material. They reduce the ability of the surface particles to be lifted and suspended by either vehicle tires or wind. To properly select the appropriate palliative one must understand the primary factors that generate dust. They include the following: Vehicle speed Number of wheels per vehicle Number of vehicles Vehicle weight Particle size distribution (gradation) of the surface material Restraint of the surface fines (compaction, cohesiveness/bonding, durability) Surface moisture (humidity, amount of precipitation, amount of evaporation).

DUST ABATEMENT BASICS

Dust from unpaved roads is not only a nuisance but creates a safety hazard by reducing the drivers visibility. Dust also affects the health of road users and increases wear-and-tear on vehicles. Dust is always considered an intruder at campsites and picnic areas. In some areas there are regulations that limit the amount of particulate allowed in the atmosphere. Fine particles, including dust, act to help hold the surface of unpaved roads together. With a loss of fine particles from the roadway, there is an increase in roadway surface raveling and maintenance costs. These fines are smaller than what the eye can see and pass through the 75 m (No. 200) sieve. How can dust emissions from the roadway be reduced or eliminated? Since the fines act as a binder that holds the surface of the unpaved road 1

An excellent description of these factors that generate dust and how to analyze total long-term costs can be found in Foley et al. (1996) and UMA Engineering (1987). Selection of the proper dust abatement program must include an understanding of not only the above factors, but the total long-term cost and environmental impacts of that program. Long-term costs include road improvement, road preparation, application of the suppressant in conjunction with the number of times the palliative needs to be applied, and expected change in maintenance practices. Environmental considerations typically

include impacts to the water quality, aquatic habitat, and plant community. Besides controlling dust, a good dust abatement program may include reduced maintenance bladings and decreased aggregate loss (UMA 1987; Addo and Sanders 1995; Lund 1973).

Table 1 gives an overview of these seven categories, listing their attributes, limitations, typical application rates, and common names based on Foley et al. (1996), UMA Engineering (1987), TTAO (1986), Bolander (1997), and Scholen (1992). Table 2 lists manufacturers and some distributors of the various dust palliatives.

DUST PALLIATIVE BASICS

There are a wide variety of dust suppressants available on the market today and there will continue to be more in the future. They can be divided into seven basic categories: water, water absorbing products, petroleum based products, organic nonpetroleum based products, electrochemical products, polymer products, and clay additive products. The categories are listed in order based on an estimate of past usage/ popularity. Typical suppressants in each category are: Water Water Absorbing Products (deliquescent/ hydroscopic) - calcium chloride brine and flakes - magnesium chloride brine - sodium chloride (salt) Organic Petroleum Products - asphalt emulsions - cutback asphalt (liquid asphalt) - dust oils - modified asphalt emulsions Organic Nonpetroleum Products - animal fats - lignosulfonate - molasses/sugar beet - tall oil emulsions - vegetable oils Electrochemical Products - enzymes - ionic products - sulfonated oils Synthetic Polymer Products - polyvinyl acetate - vinyl acrylic Clay Additives - bentonite - montmorillonite 2

SUPPRESSANT SELECTION TIPS

To determine the most cost-effective dust palliative, it is recommended that the flow diagram by UMA Engineering (1987) and Washington State Department of Ecology (1996) in figure 1 be followed. Important benefiting factors (Langdon 1980) of dust palliatives that should be considered when evaluating and selecting the proper dust palliative include: Cohering the dust particles to themselves or to larger particles Resisting wear by traffic Remaining on the road Resisting aging.

Based on the above characteristics, the product selection chart shown in table 3 should aid in selecting the most suitable dust palliative (Foley et al. 1996; UMA 1987; Bolander 1997; Bolander 1999; Scholen 1992; Langdon et al. 1980; Han 1992). When using the information in table 3, first perform a soils analysis to classify the surface material. Some palliatives require a clay component (plasticity index) or specific amount of fines to properly bind and/or agglomorate. Table 1 provides additional information about dust suppressant limitations, application methods, and environmental impact, which helps further in selecting the best dust palliative. The flow diagram in figure 1 leads the practitioner to figure 2, which is a guide for determining the overall cost of the dust abatement program including the yearly and possibly the multi-year cost of a dust abatement application. Figure 3 is a guide for summarizing the expected benefits of the selected dust control plan. If a petroleum dust palliative is being considered, further suppressant selection information can be found in Langdon (1980) and Langdon, Hicks, and Williamson (1980).

Table 1Road dust suppressants.

Dust Suppressant Category Water

Attributes

Limitations

Application

Origin

Environmental Impact

agglomerates the surface particles normally, readily available

evaporates readily controls dust generally for less than a day generally the most expensive and labor intensive of the inorganic suppressants requires minimum humidity level to absorb moisture from the air doesnt perform as well as MgCl in long dry spells performs better than MgCl when high humidity is present slightly corrosive to metal, highly to aluminum and its alloys, attracts moisture, thereby prolonging active period for corrosion rainwater tends to leach out highly soluble chlorides if high fines content in treated material, the surface may become slippery when wet effectiveness when less than 20% solution has performance similar to water

frequency depends on temperature and humidity; typically only effective from 1/2 to 12 hours

any potable water source

none

Water Absorbing: Calcium Chloride (deliquescent)

ability to absorb water from the air is a function of temperature and relative humidity; for example, at 25C (77F) it starts to absorb water at 29% relative humidity, and at 38C (100F) it starts to absorb water at 20% relative humidity significantly increases surface tension of water film between particles, helping to slow evaporation and further tighten compacted soil as drying progresses treated road can be regraded and recompacted with less concern for losing moisture and density

generally 1 to 2 treatments per season initial application: flake: @ 0.5 to 1.1 kg/m2 (1.0 to 2.0 lb/y2), typical application 0.9 kg/m2 (1.7 lb/y2) @ 77% purity liquid: 35 to 38% residual @ 0.9 to 1.6 L/m2 (0.2 to 0.35 g/y2), typical application is 38% residual concentrate applied undiluted @ 1.6 L/m2 (0.35 g/y2) follow-up: apply @ 1/2 to 1/3 initial dosage

by-product in the form of brine from manufacture of sodium carbonate by ammonia-soda process and of bromine from natural brines three forms: flake, or Type I, @ 77 to 80% purity pellet, or Type II, @ 94 to 97% purity clear liquid @ 35 to 38% solids

water quality impact: generally negligible if the proper buffer zone exists between treated area and water fresh water aquatic impact: may develop at chloride concentrations as low as 400 ppm for trout, up to 10,000 ppm for other fish species plant impact: some species susceptible, such as pine, hemlock, poplar, ash, spruce, and maple potential concerns with spills of liquid concentrate

Table 1Road dust suppressants (continued).

Dust Suppressant Category Water Absorbing: Magnesium Chloride (deliquescent)

Attributes

Limitations

Application

Origin

Environmental Impact

starts to absorb water from the air at 32% relative humidity independent of temperature more effective than calcium chloride solutions for increasing surface tension, resulting in a very hard road surface when dry treated road can be regraded and recompacted with less concern for losing moisture and density

requires minimum humidity level to absorb moisture from the air more suitable in drier climates in concentrated solutions, very corrosive to steel (note: some products may contain a corrosive-inhibiting additive); attracts moisture, thereby prolonging active period for corrosion rainwater tends to leach out highly soluble chlorides if high fines content in treated material, the surface may become slippery when wet effectiveness when less than 20% solution has performance similar to water requires minimum humidity level to absorb moisture from the air moderately corrosive to steel in dilute solutions tends not to hold up well as a surface application

generally 1 - 2 treatments per season initial application: 28 to 35% residual @ 1.4 to 2.3 L/m2 (0.30 to 0.5 g/y2), typical application is 30% residual concentrate applied undiluted @ 2.3 L/m2 (0.50 g/y2) follow-up: apply @ 1/2 initial dosage

occurs naturally as brine (evaporated)

water quality impact: generally negligible if the proper buffer zone exists between treated area and water fresh water aquatic impact: may develop at chloride concentrations as low as 400 ppm for trout, up to 10,000 ppm for other fish species plant impact: some species susceptible such as pine, hemlock, poplar, ash, spruce, and maple potential concerns with spills

4
Water Absorbing: Sodium Chloride (hygroscopic)

starts to absorb water from the air at 79% relative humidity independent of temperature increases surface tension slightly less than calcium chloride

generally 1 - 2 treatments per season higher dosages than calcium treatment

occurs naturally as rock salt and brines

same as calcium chloride

Table 1Road dust suppressants (continued).

Dust Suppressant Category Organic Petroleum Products

Attributes binds and/or agglomerates surface particles because of asphalt adhesive properties serves to waterproof the road

Limitations under dry conditions some products may not maintain resilience if too many fines in surface and high in asphaltenes, it can form a crust and fragment under traffic and in wet weather some products are difficult to maintain

Application generally 1 to 2 treatments per season 0.5 to 4.5 L/m2 (0.1 to 1 g/y2) depending on road surface condition, dilution, and product the higher viscosity emulsions are used for the more open-graded surface materials follow-up: apply at reduced initial dosages

Origin cutback asphalt: SC70 Asphalt emulsion: SS-1, SS-1h, CSS-1, or CSS-1h mixed with 5+ parts water by volume modified asphalt emulsions emulsified oils mineral oils

Environmental Impact wide variety of ingredients in these products used products are toxic oil in products might be toxic need product specific analysis potential concerns with spills and leaching prior to the product curing

Organic Nonpetroleum: Lignin Derivatives

binds surface particles together greatly increases dry strength of material under dry conditions retains effectiveness during long dry periods with low humidity with high amounts of clay, it tends to remain slightly plastic permitting reshaping and additional traffic compaction

may cause corrosion of aluminum and its alloys surface binding action may be reduced or completely destroyed by heavy rain, due to solubility of solids in water becomes slippery when wet, brittle when dry difficult to maintain as a hard surface, but can be done under adequate moisture conditions

generally 1 to 2 treatments per season 10 to 25% residual @ 2.3 to 4.5 L/m2 (0.5 to 1.0 g/y2), typical application is 50% residual concentrate applied undiluted @ 2.3 L/m2 (0.50 g/y2) or 50% residual concentrate applied diluted 1:1 w/water @ 4.5 L/m2 (1.0 g/y2) may be advantageous to apply in two applications also comes in powdered form that is mixed 1 kg to 840 liters (1 lb to 100 gallons) of water and then sprayed

water liquor product of sulfite paper making process, contains lignin in solution composition depends on raw materials (mainly wood pulp) and chemicals used to extract cellulose; active constituent is neutralized lignin sulfuric acid containing sugar

water quality impacts: none fresh water aquatic impacts: BOD may be high upon leaching into a small stream plant impacts: none potential concern with spills

Table 1Road dust suppressants (continued).

Dust Suppressant Category Organic Nonpetroleum: Molasses/Sugar Beet Extract

Attributes provides temporary binding of the surface particles

Limitations limited availability

Application not researched

Origin by-product of the sugar beet processing industry

Environmental Impact water quality impact: unknown fresh water aquatic impact: unknown plant impact: unknown, none expected water quality impact: unknown fresh water aquatic impact: unknown plant impact: unknown

Organic Nonpetroleum: Tall-Oil Derivatives

adheres surface particles together greatly increases dry strength of material under dry conditions

surface binding action may be reduced or completely destroyed by long-term exposure to heavy rain, due to solubility of solids in water difficult to maintain as a hard surface

generally 1 treatment every few years 10 to 20% residual solution @ 1.4 to 4.5 L/m2 (0.3 to 1.0 g/y2); typical application is 40 to 50% residual concentrate applied diluted 1:4 w/water @ 2.3 L/m2 (0.5 gal/y2) generally 1 treatment per season application rate varies by product, typically 1.1 to 2.3 L/m2 (0.25 to 0.50 g/y2) the warmer the product, the faster the penetration follow-up: apply at reduced initial dosages

distilled product of the kraft (sulfate) paper making process

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Organic Nonpetroleum: Vegetable oils agglomerates the surface particles

limited availability oxidizes rapidly, then becomes brittle

some products: canola oil, soybean oil, cotton seed oil, and linseed oil

water quality impact: unknown fresh water aquatic impact: some products have been tested and have a low impact plant impact: unknown, none expected

Table 1Road dust suppressants (continued).

Dust Suppressant Category Electrochemical Derivatives

Attributes changes characteristics of clay-sized particles generally effective regardless of climatic conditions

Limitations performance dependent on fineclay mineralogy needs time to setup, i.e. react with the clay fraction difficult to maintain if full strengthening reaction occurs limited life span difficult to maintain as a hard surface

Application generally diluted 1 part product to anywhere from 100 to 600 parts water diluted product also used to compact the scarified surface

Origin typical products: sulfonated oils, ammonium chloride enzymes, ionic products

Environmental Impact need product specific analysis some products are highly acidic in their undiluted form

Synthetic Polymer Derivatives

binds surface particles because of polymers adhesive properties

generally 1 treatment every few years 5 to 15% residual solution @ 1.4 to 4.5 L/m2 (0.3 to 1.0 g/y2); typical application is 40 to 50% residual concentrate applied, diluted 1:9 w/water @ 2.3 L/m2 (0.50 gal/y2)

by-product of the adhesive manufacturing process typically 40 to 60% solids

water quality impact: none fresh water aquatic impact: generally low plant impact: none need product specific analysis

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Clay Additives

agglomerates with fine dust particles generally increases dry strength of material under dry conditions

if high fines content in treated material, the surface may become slippery when wet

generally 1 treatment every 5 years typical application rate is at 1 to 3% by dry weight

mined natural clay deposits

water quality impact: unknown fresh water aquatic impact: none plant impact: none

Table 2Suppressant manufacturers.

Suppressant Category Water Absorbing Calcium Chloride

Product Name Calcium Chloride Liquid Calcium Chloride Flakes Dowflake Liquidow

Manufacturer or Primary Distributor General Chemical General Chemical Dow Chemical Dow Chemical IMC Salt Cargill Salt Division Soil-Tech Midwestern Industrial Supply, Inc. Morton International IMC Salt Any major asphalt supplier Any major asphalt supplier Pacific Northern Industrial Fuels Lyondell Petrochemical Co. Midwestern Industrial Supply, Inc. Actin Witco Corp. Morgan Emultech, Inc. Pennzoil-Quaker State Co. Koch Asphalt Co. Syntech Products, Inc. Midwestern Industrial Supply, Inc. Energy Systems Associates, Inc. Dallas Roadway Products, Inc. Georgia Pacific West, Inc. Georgia Pacific West, Inc. California-Fresno Oil Co. Jim Good Marketing Roadbind America Inc.

Phone Number 800-668-0433 800-668-0433 800-447-4369 800-447-4369 913-344-9334 800-553-7879 702-873-2023 800-321-0699 312-807-2000 800-323-1641

Web Site www.genchem.com www.genchem.com www.dowcalciumchloride.com www.dowcalciumchloride.com

Magnesium Chloride

DustGard Dust-Off Chlor-tex Dust Fyghter Morton Salt IMC Salt CSS-1 MC-70 Fuel Oil Duo Prime Oil EnviroKleen

Blend of Calcium and Magnesium Chloride Sodium Chloride Organic Petroleum Asphalt Emulsion Cutback Dust Oil/Dust Fluids

www.soil-tech.com www.midwestind.com

206-282-4421 800-423-8434 800-321-0699 219-397-5020 800-494-8287 530-241-1364 713-546-4000 909-829-0505 800-537-0288 800-321-0699 703-503-7873 800-317-1968 360-733-4410 360-733-4410 209-486-0220 805-746-3783 888-488-4273 www.witco.com www.pennzsuppress.com www.kochmaterials.com www.syntechproducts.com www.midwestind.com www.dallasroadway.com (was Lignosite) www.gp.com/chemical/ lignosulfonate www.calfresno.com www.roadbind.com (white mineral oil) www.midwestind.com (synthetic iso-alkane)

8
Modified Asphalt Emulsion Organic Nonpetroleum Lignosulfonate

Asphotac Coherex DOPE-30 PennzSuppress-D Penetrating Emulsion Primer (PEP) Petro Tac Road Pro Sandstill DC-22 Dustac Dustac-100 CalBinder Polybinder RB Ultra Plus

Table 2Suppressant manufacturers (continued).

Suppressant Category Molassas/Sugar Beet Tall Oil Emulsion

Product Name Dust Down Dust Control E Dustrol EX Road Oyl Soapstock Dust Control Agent SS

Manufacturer or Primary Distributor Amalgamated Sugar Co. Pacific Chemicals, Inc./ Lyman Dust Control Pacific Chemicals, Inc / Lyman Dust Control Soil Stabilization Products Co., Inc. Kansas Soybean Association Indiana Soybean Association Greenland Corp. Soil Stabilization Products Co., Inc. Soil Stabilization Products Co., Inc. The Charbon Group, Inc. Enzymes Plus, Div of Anderson Affiliates C.S.S. Technology, Inc. Moorhead Group CBR Plus, Inc. (Canada) Earth Sciences Products Corp. Dallas Roadway Products, Inc. Mantex Fluid Sciences, LLC Cytec Industries Enviromental Soil Systems, Inc. Earth Chem Inc. Chem-crete PolyPavement Company Enviroseal Corp. Reclamare Co. Hercules Soiloc Soil Stabilization Products Co., Inc. Midwestern Industrial Supply, Inc. Fluid Sciences, LLC Base Seal International, Inc.

Phone Number 208-733-4104 604-828-0218 or 800-952-6457 604-828-0218 or 800-952-6457 800-523-9992 800-328-7390 800-735-0195 888-682-6040 800-523-9992 800-523-9992 714-593-1034 800-444-7741 800-541-3348 831-685-1148 604-684-8072 503-678-1216 800-317-1968 800-527-9919 888-356-7847 or 318-264-9448 800-835-9844 800-368-4115 970-223-4998 972-234-8565 323-954-2240 561-969-0400 206-824-2385 800-815-7668 800-523-9992 800-321-0699 888-356-7847 800-729-6985

Web Site

www.sspco.org

Vegetable Oils

Electrochemical

Enzymes

Bio Cat 300-1 EMCSQUARED Perma-Zyme 11X UBIX No. 0010

www.sspco.org www.sspco.org www.natural-industrial.com

Ionic Sulfonated Oils

Road Bond EN-1 Terrastone CBR Plus Condor SS SA-44 System Settler TerraBond Clay

www.csstech.com www.terrastone.com www.cbrplus.com www.earthscienceproducts.com www.dallasroadway.com www.fluidsciences.com www.cytec.com www.earthchem.com www.chem-crete.com/ soilstabilizer.htm www.polypavement.com www.enviroseal.com

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Synthetic Polymer Emulsions

Polyvinyl Acetate Vinyl Acrylic

Stabilizer Aerospray 70A Soil Master WR Earthbound L ECO-110 PolyPavement Liquid Dust Control Marloc Soiloc-D Soil Seal Soil Sement

www.sspco.org www.midwestind.com www.fluidsciences.com www.baseseal.com

Combination of Polymers

TerraBond PolySeal Top Shield

Table 2Suppressant manufacturers (continued).

Suppressant Category Clay Additives Bentonite

Product Name Central Oregon Bentonite Pelbon Volclay Stabilite

Manufacturer or Primary Distributor Central Oregon Bentonite American Colloid Co. American Colloid Co. Soil Stabilization Products Co., Inc.

Phone Number 541-477-3351 800-426-5564 or 847-392-4600 708-392-4600 800-523-9992

Web Site

www.colloid.com www.colloid.com www.sspco.org

Montmorillonite

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Identify Emission Source Requiring Control

Trafficked

Is Source Trafficked or Untrafficked?

Untrafficked

Paved

Unpaved

Evaluate Prevention Options

Evaluate Prevention Options

Evaluate Prevention Options

Develop a Dust Control Plan. (Contact Your Local Air Pollution Control Authority Office for Assistance)

Develop a Dust Control Plan. (Contact Your Local Air Pollution Control Authority Office for Assistance)

If Considering Surface Modifications: Determine Traffic Volume and Type (Passenger Vehicle, Truck, Heavy Equip.)

Proceed with Plan Implementation

Proceed with Plan Implementation

<500 ADT

>500 ADT

Monitor Plan Success; Revise, if Necessary.

Monitor Plan Success; Revise, if Necessary.

Evaluate Road Condition Consider Higher Standard of Surface Treatment: Chip Seal Coating or Asphalt Paving.

Good

Poor

Upgrade Road

Evaluate Surfacing Materials

Satisfactory

Unsatisfactory

Determine Subgrade Type, Climate and Environmental Constraints

Modify or Add Surfacing Materials No Solution Still No Solution

Evaluate Chemical Suppressants. Communicate With Vendors and Select Most Suitable Product(s) for Your Site; See Table 3 for Guidance.

Determine Application Rates and Frequency; See Table 1 for Guidance

Unsatisfactory

Obtain Suppliers Information (Quotes, Instructions, etc.) Determine Application Procedure and Personnel & Equipment Requirements

Develop a Dust Control Plan. (Contact your Local Air Pollution Control Authority Office for Assistance) Determine Costs and Benefits and Evaluate Overall Cost Effectiveness of Plan; See Tables 2 & 3 for Guidance Cost Effective Proceed with Plan Implementation

Not Cost Effective

Monitor Plan Success and Revise, if Neccesary

Figure 1Guidelines for cost-effective selection and use of dust palliatives.

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Table 3Product selection chart.

Traffic Volumes, Average Daily Traffic Plasticity Index Light <100 Medium 100 to 250 Heavy >250 (1)

Surface Material Fines (Passing 75 m, No. 200, Sieve)

Climate During Traffic

Dust Palliative Calcium Chloride Magnesium Chloride Petroleum Lignin Tall Oil Vegetable Oils Electro-chemical Synthetic Polymers Clay Additives (6) Legend = Good Notes:

<3

38

>8

<5

510 1020

2030

>30 (3) (3)

Wet &/or Rainy (3,4) (3,4) (3)

Damp to Dry

Dry (2)

(5) (6)

(6) (3,6) (6) (6)

(4)

12

(3,4) (6) (3)

= Fair

= Poor

(1) May require higher or more frequent application rates, especially with high truck volumes (2) Greater than 20 days with less than 40% relative humidity (3) May become slippery in wet weather (4) SS-1 or CSS-1 with only clean, open-graded aggregate (6) Road mix for best results

Forest Road Name Road Number Project Location Dust Palliative Product From

Date Estimated ADT Average Road Width To Length

First Application Rate Second Application Rate

Item A. Road Improvement Costs Drainage improvements Geometric improvements Repair of failed areas Addition of gravel surfacing B. Surface Preparation Costs Addition of select material (fines, etc.) Break up and loosen, watering, shaping, compacting C. Product Supply and Application Cost Material supply Diluting with water (if necessary) Transportation & application D. Miscellaneous Costs Traffic control, detours Inspection, supervision Other costs

Total Cost

Cost/km

TOTAL COST OF PROGRAM COST EXCLUDING ITEM "A" ABOVE

Figure 2Cost record for dust control programs.

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Forest Road Name Road Number Project Location Dust Palliative Product From

Date Estimated ADT Average Road Width To Length

First Application Rate Second Application Rate

Benefits A. Reduced Maintenance costs Estimate 25 to 75% savings over previous blading costs. Use local figures, if available.

Estimated Savings per Year

B. Reduced Regravelling Estimate based on traffic volume and climate. Use local figures, if available.

C. Other (intangible) Reduced vehicle accidents Reduced vehicle damage Higher quality of life and property values Reduced cleaning costs Reduced dust induced respiratory problems Reduced sedimentation in water bodies Reduced impact on dust sensitive vegetation Reduced complaints from public

TOTAL TANGIBLE BENEFITS OF PROGRAM

Figure 3Benefits of dust control programs.

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SUPPRESSANT APPLICATION TIPS

Once a suitable product is selected, the next step is to determine the appropriate application rate and frequency. Table 1 lists broad ranges of application rates for various products and can be used as a guideline. Manufacturer s literature, past experience, and field or laboratory test plots over a square meter (1 square yard) can also be used to help determine the appropriate application rate. Generally, higher application rates or increased frequency is required when the following conditions are present: High traffic volumes with high speeds and a larger percentage of truck traffic Low humidity conditions, especially when using calcium chloride Low fines content in road surface, typically when there is less than 10 percent passing through the 75 m (No. 200) sieve Poorly bladed surface and/or loose wearing surface.

Compact the roadway (depending on treatment and sequence of operations).

Maximum benefits can also be achieved by adequate penetration of the liquid dust suppressant. This penetration should be on the order of 10 to 20 millimeters (3/8 to 3/4 inches). Proper penetration mitigates loss of the palliative resulting from surface wear. Adequate penetration also resists leaching, imparts cohesion, and resists aging (Langdon 1980). Application tips that apply to all liquid dust suppressant products include: Apply suppressants, especially salts, immediately following the wet season. If possible, apply after rain so materials are moister (aids mixing) and more workable. If applied just before a rain, the material may wash away. Adhere to manufacturers recommendations on minimum application rate, compaction and curing time prior to allowing traffic. If the surface material is dry, dampen, except when using cut-back asphalt products. If a hard crust is present, break up and loosen the surface. Use a pressure distributor to uniformly distribute the dust suppressant. Ensure that the necessary residual of the product is obtained. The residual is the amount of product that remains after the evaporation of water from the concentrate, as well as that used to dilute the product prior to application. The residual (sometimes called solids or binder) is the portion of the product that is responsible for the binding and/or agglomeration of the particles.

General Application Tips

The performance of any dust suppressant is related to many application factors. Application method, rate, frequency, and product concentration are a few of these factors. A stable, tight surface that readily sheds surface water is another. If properly applied and constructed, a longer life and higher level of service can be expected from the dust abatement efforts (Foley et al. 1996; UMA 1987; Washington Dept. of Ecology 1996; Giummarra, Foley, and Cropley 1997). Since dust suppression and road maintenance efforts are usually combined, it is prudent to include the following practices in the maintenance and rehabilitation of road surfaces prior to applying a dust palliative: Repair unstable surfacing and/or subgrade areas Adequately drain (crown and crossfall) the road surface Remove boney (poorly graded) surface material Grade sufficient depth of roadway to remove ruts, potholes, and erosion gullies

Water Application Tips

Regular, light watering is more effective than less frequent, heavy watering.

Chloride Application Tips

Light compaction is recommended after a chloride brine application.

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Petroleum Application Tips

Soil type and density greatly affect the rate and amount of penetration. In all instances, it is desirable to attain a 12 to 25 millimeter (1/2 to 1 inch) penetration. Most products (with the exception of SS- and CSS-1) will penetrate and coat most soils if they have been loosened by scarification. For surfaces which have not been scarified, only those products with low viscosities will penetrate.

precautions and follow manufacturer s directions when handling, mixing, and applying dust suppressants. Application of all dust suppressants must comply with federal, state, and local laws and regulations. These vary by locality and need to be checked prior to implementing the dust abatement program. The primary environmental concern with dust palliatives is how they impact the groundwater quality, freshwater aquatic environment, and plant community. Take all necessary precautions to keep dust palliative material out of water drainages and roadway ditches leading to streams. The impact of dust palliatives on groundwater quality is based on how the suppressant migrates to the local groundwater table in conjunction with the chemicals used in the suppressant. Chemical analysis of the suppressant will assist in determining if harmful constituents are present. Knowing the depth to groundwater and the permeability of the native soil will assist in determining how and if the chemicals will leach to the groundwater table. A direct way to evaluate the contamination of harmful constituents to the groundwater is to conduct water quality sampling of the surrounding area before and after dust palliative application. The impact of dust palliatives on the freshwater aquatic environment is measured by both the toxicity to fish and the availability of oxygen. Each state sets its own standards and they may vary by watershed and the type and age of the fish population. The test to determine toxicity is the LC50 test and the test to determine available oxygen is the BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) test. The LC50 test measures the lethal concentration (LC) of product, expressed in parts per million (ppm), that will produce a 50 percent mortality rate in the test group in 96 hours. The larger the concentration, the less toxic the material. Typically, less than 100 ppm is considered toxic, 1,000 ppm is considered practically nontoxic, and greater than 10,000 ppm is considered nontoxic. The BOD test measures the oxygen used by microbes as it digests (feeds on) the product in water. Typically, the products that are derived from organic nonpetroleum suppressants are the most likely to have high BOD results.

Organic Nonpetroleum Application Tips

Remove loose material prior to application unless the road surface will be mixed and/or compacted after the spray application. When applying vegetable oils, the top 25 to 50 millimeter (1 to 2 inches) of the surface should be loose to improve penetration.

Electrochemical Application Tips

Typically these products are mixed into the road surface.

Polymer Application Tips

Light compaction is recommended after a polymer application, unless the polymer is mixed into the road surface.

Clay Additive Application Tips

Ensure that the clay and the associated water used for compaction is uniformly distributed throughout the surface material. This method requires a minimum of 8 passes with a motor-grader or use of a cross-shaft rotary mixer. All dust suppressants have a limited lifespan and require regular applications to satisfactorily control dust on a long-term basis. Subsequent applications should be made if and when dust levels exceed acceptable levels. These subsequent applications may be lighter than the initial application.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Any suppressant ingredient may migrate due to carelessness in application, run-off, leaching, dust particle migration, or adhesion to vehicles. Carefully review the product literature, Material Safety Data Sheet, and manufacturers instructions before purchase and use. Observe all safety 16

There are no standard tests for measuring how dust palliatives impact the plant community; however, some tests have been performed that simply observe the impact on plant life. Addo and Sanders (1995) summarize a number of environmental impact studies on the use of various chlorides on water quality, plants, and animals. Heffner (1997) updates the work by Schwendeman (1981) concerning the environmental impacts of some of the most common dust palliatives used by the Forest Service. Based on their efforts, the following is recommended when using these palliatives once or twice a year at their typical application rates: Lignosulfonate - Determine prior to application if significant migration (water drainage) might occur from the treated area into local streams, ponds, and lakes. Ensure that migration will not impact the oxygen needs of the aquatic community.

Calcium and Magnesium Chlorides - Restrict the use of chlorides within 8 meters (25 feet) of a body of water. In areas of shallow groundwater, determine if significant migration of the chloride would reach the groundwater table. Restrict the use of chlorides if low salt tolerant vegetation is within 8 meters (25 feet) of the treated area. Typical low-tolerant vegetation includes various varieties of alder, hemlock, larch, maple, ornamentals, and pine. Evaluations of other dust palliatives have not been made. If there is concern regarding the impact of a dust palliative on the environment, then, as a minimum, the LC50 and BOD tests should be performed. Results can be used to estimate the potential impact of the dust palliative in question on the local aquatic and plant communities.

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PAST FIELD OR LABORATORY STUDY REFERENCES

Gifford Pinchot National Forest Study (1988) Dust Abatement Review and Recommendation, by Marjorie Apodaca and Don Huffmon (internal report). Lolo National Forest Study (1992) Dust Abatement Product Comparisons in the Northern Region, by Steve Monlux, Engineering Field Notes, Volume 26, MayJune, 1993. Fremont National Forest Study (1991) Asphotac, A Demonstration of a Dust Palliative, by Joe Acosta, Jim Bassel, and John Crumrine (internal report). Larimer County, Colorado Study (1995) Effectiveness and Environmental Impact of Road Dust Suppressants, by Jonathan Addo and Thomas Sanders, Department of Civil Engineering, Colorado State University, Report No. 95-28A, March 1995. Forest Service Region Six Laboratory Study (1999) Laboratory Testing of Nontraditional Additives for Dust Abatement and Stabilization of Roads and Trails, by Peter Bolander, Transportation Research Board, Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Low Volume Roads, TRR No. 1652, Volume 2, May 1999. US Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station (WES-1993) Evaluation of Methods for Controlling Dust, by Richard Grau, Technical Report No. GL-93-25, September 1993. US Army Corps of Engineers Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (1997) Effectiveness of Dust Control Agents Applied to Tank Trails and Helicopter Landing Zones, by Dick Gebhart and Thomas Hale, Technical Report 97/69, April 1997.

ONGOING FIELD OR LABORATORY STUDIES

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa Holistic Approach to Research into Dust and Dust Control on Unsealed Roads, by David Jones, Transportation Research Board, Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Low Volume Roads, TRR No. 1652, Volume 2, May 1999. Environmental Technology Evaluation Center (EvTEC), Highway Innovative Technology Evaluation Center, Civil Engineering Research Foundation, Washington, D.C. Dust Control/Road Stabilization Agents (ongoing study).

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LITERATURE CITED
Addo, J., and T. Sanders. 1995. Effectiveness and Environmental Impact of Road Dust Suppressants, Mountain-Plains Consortium, Colorado State University, MPC Report No. 92-28A. Bolander, P. 1999. Laboratory Testing of Nontraditional Additives for Dust Abatement and Stabilization of Roads and Trails, Transportation Research Board, Proceedings from the Seventh International Conference on Low-Volume Roads , Transportation Research Record No. 1652, Volume 2, Washington D.C. Bolander, P. 1997. Chemical Additives for Dust Control-What We Have Used and What We Have Learned. In Variable tire pressure, flowable fill, dust control, and base and slope stabilization, Transportation Research Board, Transportation Research Record No. 1589, Washington D.C. Foley G., S. Cropley, and G. Giummarra. 1996. Road Dust Control TechniquesEvaluation of Chemical Dust Suppressants Performance, ARRB Transport Research Ltd., Special Report 54, Victoria, Australia. Giummarra, G., G. Foley, and S. Cropley. 1997. Dust ControlAustralian Experiences with Various Chemical Additives, In Variable tire pressure, flowable fill, dust control, and base and slope stabilization, Transportation Research Board, Transportation Research Record No. 1589, Washington D.C. Han, C. 1992. Dust Control on Unpaved Roads, Minnesota Local Roads Research Board (LRRB), Report No. MN/RC-92/07. Heffner, K. 1997. Water Quality Effects of Three Dust-Abatement Compounds, USDA Forest Service Engineering Field Notes, Volume 29. Langdon, B. 1992. An Evaluation of Dust Abatement Materials Used in Region 6, Transportation Research Institute, Civil Engineering Department, Oregon State University, Research Report 80-3. Langdon, B., G. Hicks, and R. Williamson. 1980. A Guide for Selecting and Using Dust Palliatives, Transportation Research Institute, Civil Engineering Department, Oregon State University, Research Report 80-13. Lund, J. 1973. Surfacing Loss Study, unpublished, USDA Forest Service, Portland, Oregon. Scholen, D.E. 1992. Non-Standard Stabilizers, Federal Highway Administration, FHWA-FLP-92-011, Washington D.C. Schwendeman, T. 1981. Dust Control StudyPart 2Dust Palliative Evaluation, USDA Forest Service, Gallatin National Forest. Transportation Technical Assistance Office of the University of Missouri-Rolla. 1986. Operating Tips - Road Dust Suppressants, Northwest Technology Transfer Center, Olympia, Washington. UMA Engineering Ltd. 1987. Guidelines for Cost Effective Use and Application of Dust Palliatives, Roads and Transportation Association of Canada, Ottawa, Canada. Washington Department of Ecology. 1996. Techniques for Dust Prevention and Suppression, Washington Department of Ecology Fact Sheet, Publication No. 96-433.

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About the Authors Pete Bolander Pete graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in civil engineering. He has a masters degree in soil mechanics and foundation engineering from Oregon State University. Pete began his career with the Forest Service as a geotechnical engineer on the Willamette NF. After 10 years on the Willamette, Pete moved to the Pacific Northwest Regional Office (Region 6) in Portland, OR as the Regional Pavement Engineer. Alan Yamada Alan graduated from the University of Hawaii with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Oregon. He served as a Zone Engineer in Region 2 and on the construction team for the Coldwater Visitor Center and the Johnston Ridge Observatory within the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument in Region 6. Alan joined the Center in December 1996 and serves as a project leader supporting the Engineering Program.

Library Card Bolander, Peter, ed. 1999. Dust palliative selection and application guide. Project Report. 99771207-SDTDC. San Dimas, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, San Dimas Technology and Development Center. 20 p. This publication helps practitioners understand and correctly choose and apply the dust palliative that is appropriate for their particular site, traffic conditions, and climate. Describes the expected performance, limitations, and potential environmental impacts of various palliatives. It is recommended that this guide be used as a starting point for determining which palliative would be most appropriate for a given situation. Keywords: dust abatement, palliatives, suppressants Additional single copies of this document may be ordered from: USDA Forest Service San Dimas Technology and Development Center ATTN: Richard Martinez 444 E. Bonita Avenue San Dimas, CA 91773 Phone: (909) 599-1267 x201 Fax: (909) 592-2309 E-Mail: rmartinez/wo_sdtdc@fs.fed.us FSNotes: Richard Martinez/WO/USDAFS For additional technical information, contact Peter Bolander at the following address: USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region 333 SW 1st Avenue P.O. Box 3623 Portland, OR 97204 Phone: (503) 808-2500 Fax: (503) 808-2511 An electronic copy of this document is available on the Forest Services FSWeb Intranet at: http://fsweb.sdtdc.wo.fs.fed.us

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